By the way, here’s something you should know before using our serviceBy the way, here’s something you should know before using our service. Read MoreIf you haven’t noticed yet, we are not A LAW FIRM AND ARE NOT affiliated with ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. WE ARE A PRIVATELY OWNED WEBSITE PROVIDING EASY, SELF HELP ONLINE IMMIGRATION SOLUTIONS. PURCHASE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE GOVERNMENT FILING FEES. BLANK FORMS ARE AVAILABLE WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR FREE FROM THE USCIS. Our software was built by immigration professionals and currently used by immigration attorneys. We pride ourselves in running the latest technology to make the immigration application process easy and secure. Our teams spend hundreds of hours every week improving how our systems work to make your experience the best it can be on any device. Customer service agents are not lawyers and will only answer questions regarding billing or our software. We’re sure the USCIS tries really hard to make the immigration process easier for you, we’re just here to do it better. The choice is yours!close

Who Qualifies to Sponsor a Same-Sex Spouse?

You may qualify to sponsor your same-sex spouse for a Green Card if:

You are legally married

You were both physically present at the marriage ceremony

You have not tried to enter into a false marriage to evade immigration laws

Note: Requirements for marriage by proxy are still being defined in terms of same-sex marriage. Marriage by proxy is when one spouse, or both spouses, are not physically present at a marriage ceremony.

States that Recognize Same-Sex Marriage

It is important to know which states see same-sex marriage as legal, especially for immigration purposes.

Knowing the legal status of your relationship will aid you in your application process.

The states that grant same-sex marriages are:

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Iowa

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New York

Vermont

Washington

Washington, D.C.

From August 1, 2013:

Rhode Island

Minnesota

Forms to File When Sponsoring Your Same-Sex Spouse

You will file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to petition the USCIS for a Green Card for your spouse.

You will file Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, to show that you can support your spouse financially.

Once your spouse is in the U.S., or if they are in the U.S. already, they will file:

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization if they would like to work.

Form I-131, Application for Travel Document if they want to travel abroad while their application is in process.

If your spouse is outside the U.S., he or she will apply for the Green Card at a U.S. consulate abroad. When the consulate approves Form I-130, your spouse will receive a date for an interview.

ImmigrationDirect's Form Navigator wizard prepares all these forms for you. You answer simple, step-by-step questions in plain English - our software does the rest.

Filing Fees

The USCIS filing fee for Form I-130 is $420 and the filing fee for Form I-485 is $985.There is no filing fee for Form I-134. Your spouse may also be required to have his or her biometrics (fingerprints and signature) taken for a fee of $85.

USCIS Form I-130 Fee:

$420

USCIS Form I-134 Fee:

$0

USCIS Form I-485 Fee:

$985

USCIS Biometrics Fee:

$85

Total:

$1490

The Marriage-Based Green Card Interview

The U.S. government closely reviews all petitions for marriage Green Cards. Immigration officers look to expose what are called "marriages of convenience".

Marriages of convenience are cases of immigration fraud where someone marries another person so that they can get immigration benefits - such as a Green Card.

The immigration officer will ask you both a series of questions that may be very personal. The point of these questions is to reveal a functional and personal relationship between you and your spouse. You may be asked questions about your relationship, how you met, your finances, and the details of your daily lives and work. See a list of sample questions here.

The more you know about each other, the better the chance that your application will be approved.

If the initial interview is successful, you will then be granted a conditional Green Card. A conditional Green Card is valid for two years, after which you and your spouse will need to apply together to have the conditions on the Green Card removed.

To remove the conditions on the Green Card and get a regular, ten-year Green Card, you will need to file Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence. At this time, you may be interviewed and your marriage examined again.

Green Card Interview Checklist

At the time of your interview, it's a good idea to gather supporting documents and proof of your marriage relationship. Below is a list of documents you can use to support your application.

Pass the U.S. Citizenship Test

When applying for U.S. Citizenship through naturalization, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) does require a Citizenship test to be taken by all applicants. The Citizenship test will be based on the ability of reading, writing and speaking English, knowledge of American history and the government of the United States.

We are not a law firm, and this site and our software are not a substitute for the advice of a lawyer and do not contain or constitute legal advice. We are not affiliated with or sponsored by the United States government or any government agency. This site provides general information on some commonly encountered immigration matters only and was created to allow you to more simply navigate your completion of immigration paperwork using online software. The content on this site should not be relied on to reach conclusions about any person's specific situation. Self-help software and customer support services are provided solely at a user's direction. Customer support is for technical and billing issues only and will not answer legal questions. We do not provide legal advice, opinions, or recommendations about any individual's specific legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, or strategies. We do not make form recommendations or recommend or provide answers to specific questions on forms, and communications between you and us are not protected by any privilege. Purchase prices do not include applicable government agency filing or biometrics fees, if any. The forms that can be completed using our software can be obtained for free from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as blank forms with written instructions. Automated eligibility quizzes were created using instructions, rules and regulations published by the USCIS and only indicate whether you meet minimum eligibility requirements to apply for the given immigration benefit. Quiz results do not guarantee eligibility or ineligibility as you may or may not be eligible based on reasons not addressed in the quizzes. Your access to and use of this site, including any purchase, is subject to and constitutes your agreement to the website Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Refunds will only be issued if requested within thirty (30) days and before completed application is printed. Exceptions and restrictions may apply; see Refund Policy for details.